I believe in good luck, and the harder I work and the more I believe in myself, the luckier I get.

Give up money, give up fame, give up science, give the earth itself and all it contains, rather than do an immoral act.

Perfect happiness, I believe, was never intended by the Deity to be the lot of one of his creatures in this world; but that he has very much put in our power the nearness of our approaches to it is what I have steadfastly believed.

From the dissensions among Sects themselves arise necessarily a right of choosing and necessity of deliberating to which we will conform. But if we choose for ourselves, we must allow others to choose also, and so reciprocally, this establishes religious liberty.

Without society, and a society to our taste, men are never contented.

The further the departure from direct and constant control by the citizens, the less has the government of the ingredient of republicanism.

I sincerely join you in abjuring all political connection with every foreign power; and tho I cordially wish well to the progress of liberty in all nations, and would forever give it the weight of our countenance, yet they are not to be touched without contamination from their other bad principles. Commerce with all nations, alliance with none, should be our motto.